QuestionAppreciate any help you can offer, I'm in a bind. Just bought a 1986 Honda Shadow VT500 and am excited to finally have a bike to kick around on. It's from a trustworthy source and has just had a good bit of top-end work done (tune-up, oil, gaskets, other minor stuff). I rode around two days with no trouble.
Today I went to give it one more ride (second of the day, about 20 minutes apart). I put it in first, got interrupted, stalled out accidentally (by releasing clutch with no throttle). Then went to start again, no problem kicking on, except now the clutch is loose as can be, totally slack.
It'll shift into first, etc but won't engage engine, as if it was still in neutral. I put it back in neutral, not wanting to shift it without the clutch properly engaged. I didn't have time to look into it, but couldn't see any obvious breaks in the cable at either end. I'm really bummed, and hoping I don't need to replace the whole clutch or anything. Any thoughts? Chance it's just the cable that seized up or something? Thanks so so much.
Cyrus
AnswerCyrus, remove the clutch cable and inspect it carefully. Sudden failures like this are usually the cable, especially after 23 years of service.
IF the cable is, in fact, still functional, then the next step is to go into the clutch cover and see if the release mechanism has failed or the clutch assembly has come undone for some reason.
http://www.cmsnl.com/honda-vt500c-shadow-500-1986-us_model7642/partslist/E++06.h...
Bill Silver
